Donald Ray Phillippe

Donald Ray Phillippe, 92, of Anderson, died peacefully on June 1, 2025, at Community Hospital–Anderson. He was born on April 9, 1933, in Cutler, Indiana.
Don graduated from Anderson High School (Class of 1952) and served his country (US Naval Reserves 1951 to 1957) during the Korean War in the United States Navy, attached to NATO-6th Fleet from 1954 to 1956. With funding from the GI Bill, he went on to earn degrees from the International Business College (BSC in 1954), Ball State University (BS Accounting in 1959), and Indiana University Law School (JD in 1963).
Launching his career in 1956, Don served his community as an Accountant, an Attorney at Law (admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals–7th Circuit), and as the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 50th Judicial Circuit. In 1972, he won the first of a record-setting 11 elections to become a Judge for the Anderson City Court, where he served proudly until 2015. In 2016, he was honored by the Indiana General Assembly (Senate Resolution 9) for his 44 years on the bench and 51 years as an Attorney. If you worked for him, you always remained a part of his team. If you worked with him, you honored his fairness on the bench and the knowledge he shared so generously with all, especially younger attorneys. And when he loved you, he shared his wry humor and complete loyalty–family, friends, "the lunch bunch," "the wrecking crew," and the AHS Band kids.
Don was a member of the Bar Associations for Madison County and the State of Indiana, and also served as President of the Indiana City and Town Court Judges Association while also being a member of the Judicial Ethics Committee, Judicial Conference of Indiana. He further supported the community of Anderson with the Anderson Noon Optimists, Anderson American Legion Post #128, 40 & 8, Anderson Elks Lodge, Madison County Shrine Club, University Club, Rooster Club, Roosevelt/Kennedy Club, Fraternal Order of Police #48, F & AM #681, Scottish Rite, Indianapolis and Anderson York Rite, Chapter 52, Counsel #69, Commandry #32.
Don loved gardening, computers, a dry red wine, fried eggs (only if you "cremated them"), vanilla bean ice cream, and his nightly Heineken while "vegetating". He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Dottie Phillippe; three children, Amy Anesi (Anthony), Dean Miller (Carol), and Debra Miller; four grandchildren, Nathan Miller (Amy), Abigail Zakhary (George), and Marguerite & Adeline Kosterman, and three great-grandchildren, Elijah Zakhary, Rebecca & Naomi (due in August) Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, A. Gerald Phillippe and Elsie F. Veatch.
Cremation will take place with a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Madison County Humane Society, https://www.mchsandersonin.org/ or The Animal Protection League Inc., Indiana. https://www.inapl.org/ www.loosecares.com